Improvement in an i m al-traps



J. EDGE. Animal-Trap.

Patented Oct. 29,1878- ruft-.liv fili .i n ...hik l tiri! ...iai

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NPETERS. PMDro-LITHUGRAF'HER wASHxNGToN. D, CA

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES EDGE, OF PATER'SON, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN NI MAL-TRAPS.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,388, datedOctober 29, 1878; application filed March 21, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES EDGE, of Paterson, in Vthe State of NewJersey, have invented an Improvement in Mole- Traps, of which thefollowing is a specification:

Mole-traps have been made with spikes, operated both by springs andweights, and the trap has been discharged by the ground rising as themole passes along the hole; and in some instances the weights have beenprovided with spikes and sustained in slides.

My invention consists in a pair of weights, with spikes projecting' fromtheir lower edges, and set to slide freely in vertical slides, andhaving straps, with hooks for holding up the weights, in combinationwith a lifter, that disengages the hooks and allows the weights andspikes to fall, thereby piercing the mole, whether at one side of thelifter or the other.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the mole-trapcomplete. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.

The spikes a are in the form of a vertical range along the bottom edgeof the weight b. It is preferable to place thepointed steel wires in thesand and allow the cast metal to flow around the ends that project intothe mold. In this way the spikes or needles are rmly secured into themetal weight, and but little cost is involved in the construction. Thereare two of these iron weights with the spikes, and there is a frame composed of the vertical slides ev e for these weights and the crosspiecesf g that connect them together. This frame may be of wood or metal.

rIhe lifter la is upon a vertical rod, k, that slides through thecross-pieces f g, and its downward movement is limit-ed by a stop, t',above the cross-piece j'.

Upon the weights b there are straps, lm., having hooks o r at the upperend, that are interlocked together when the weights are raised, as seenin Figs. 1 and 2, and these hooks are adjacent to the upper end of therod 7c. The hook r is passed beneath the inger t, so as to keep it frombeing lifted with the hook o as the rod L lifts said hook o, and therebydisconnects the hooks and allows the straps to separate and the weightsand spikes to fall.

Itis generally preferable to employ a pin,

e, in the cross-piece g and a hole in the hook o, so as to. steady thehooks in their proper position relatively to the lifting-rod. The hook ois lifted off this pin c when the trap is set oft' by the animal, andthe faces of the hooks that come into contactV should be square ornearly so, in order that they may separate freely as the one is liftedlaterally from the other.

To set the trap, it is preferable to tread the earth down iiat in themole-rim and place the trap longitudinally above the same, and raise theWeights and let them drop, so that the earth is perforated at the places'where' the spikes will penetrate. The weights are then raised and thestraps hooked together, and the trap is ready. Then the trap is set offthe spikes re-enter the holes in the earth, and the weight and momentumare expended in forcing the spikes into the mole.

It is desirable to have some indicator, whereby the condition of thetrap, canbe observed from a distance. To provide for this I place ablock, 3, upon lone ofthe belts, with a small staff, 4, carrying a pieceof red iiannel or similar material, 5. This "stands upright above thetrap when the same is set, but it falls over sidewise when the trap isdischarged.

I am aware that mole-traps have been made in which a verticali y-sliding weight is provided with a row of spikes at each end, and that catches,cords, and latches have been usediito hold up the weight, and these aredisconnected by theburrowing of the mole; and I am aware that signalshave been used with various traps and fishing-lines.-

I claim as my invention- I. In a mole-trap, the two weights b and spikesa, sliding vertically in the frame e and provided with the straps lm andhooks o r, in combinationwith the lifter h and rod 7c,- substantially asset forth.

2.1'Ihe weights b and straps lm, in combination with the hooks o r, pinc, iinger t, and lifter 7L, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a mole-trap, of the two separate sliding weightsb, with spikes upon their lower edges, the sustaining-straps lm, hooks or, lifter h, staff 4, and signal 5, connected to one of the straps, forthe purposes and as set forth.

Signed by me this 20th day of March, A. D.

JAMES EDGE. Witnesses:

GEO. T. IINCKNEY, WILLIAM G. MOTT.

